E-scooters make their return to the streets of Saskatoon
One of Saskatoon’s two operators says their e-scooters are now back on the streets.
Neuron Mobility said Monday marks the start of a second scooter season in Saskatoon. Together, Neuron and Bird Canada supply about 500 e-scooters in Saskatoon as part of a two-year pilot project.
Neuron touts its scooters as a fun, environmentally friendly alternative to a car journey. The company says 54 per cent of trips in Saskatoon have replaced a car journey, with riders logging about 280,000 kilometres since the start of the program in May 2023.
“Saskatoon has been an excellent City for Neuron’s safety first e-scooters and we are excited to be back on the streets for another year,” Neuron GM Ankush Karwal said in a news release.
“Residents and visitors are not only exploring the City, but using Neuron to visit local businesses and attractions. Last year, six out of 10 e-scooter trips resulted in a purchase at a local business, with an estimated local economic impact of $7.3 million.”
There have been some hiccups since the rollout of the pilot project.
Last June, city councillors said they were hearing reports that scooters were being ditched all over town, and the city’s transportation director said the geofencing system on the scooters wasn’t working properly in the initial days, allowing people to ride on sidewalks and veer far out of designated areas.
To help familiarize folks with the local riding rules, Neuron says its offering people free credits by visiting the company’s online ScootSafe Academy.
In Saskatoon, riders must be 16-years-old and above to ride, and those under 18 need consent from a parent or legal guardian.
You can ride on bike lanes, multi-use trails, pathways and streets with a speed limit of 50 kilometres an hour or lower.
On streets, riders are encouraged to stay as far right as they can safely go. Helmets are mandatory for all riders.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Judge holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000 and raises threat of jail in hush money trial
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. If he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
BREAKING 4 dead, including infant, in wrong-way crash involving police on Ontario's Highway 401
A wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby, Ont. last night has left four people dead, including an infant, Ontario’s police watchdog says.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Statistics Canada says real GDP grew 0.2 per cent in February
Canada's GDP rose 0.2 per cent in February, driven by a rebound in transportation and warehousing, which saw the largest recorded month-to-month rise in over a year at 1.4 per cent.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Police searching for 'armed man' in Dartmouth, N.S., residents asked to shelter in place
Residents in the area of Gaston Road in Dartmouth, N.S., are being asked to shelter in place as police search for an armed suspect.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.